Saint Patrick’s day, or as the Irish call it, Lá ‘le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig, is a feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, on March 17.

It is a national holiday for the Irish, the overseas Montserret, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is also recognised in the United States, Australia, and the rest of Canada, but not as an official holiday. Now, it is widely celebrated, both by Irish people and non-Irish people, hence the phrase, “Everyone is Irish on Saint Patrick’s day.” The theme of this day mostly revolves around green objects and the Irish.

In the past, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated as a religious event. However, it became a public holiday in 1903, introduced by the Irish of the United Kingdom Parliament, MP James O’Mara. O’Mara later introduced the law which required that pubs be closed on March 17, a provision which was repealed only in the 1970s. The first parade in conjuction of St. Patrick’s Day was held in Dublin in 1931, in the Irish Free State. Although secular celebrations now exist, the holiday is still a religious observence in some areas.

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The Qingming Festival, or Ching Ming festival, when literally translated, means Clear and Bright Festival. This day is a traditional Chinese festival that occurs on the 104th day after the winter solstice, usually around April 5 of the Chinese calendar. This day is also known by a number of other names in English, such as Grave Sweeping Day, Memorial Day, Spring Rememberance, as well as a few others.

For the Chinese, this day is used to remember and honour one’s ancestors. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, paper accessories and/or libation to ancestors. The rites are important. Some people carry willow branches on Qingming, or put them on the front doors or gates, believing that they will ward off evil ghosts that wander freely on this day. Also, people go on family outings, start the spring plowing, sing or dance. Qingming is also a time when young couples start the courting process.

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The Chinese have many histories about their religion, clothing and other aspects of their culture. However, maybe one of the best ones, is the ability to deliver the richest and most diverse cuisines. The Chinese cuisine originated from many different regions of China, and now, has become widespread, from East Asia to Western Europe.

A typical meal in the Chinese cuisine consists of two or more carbohydrate sources, or starch, and is accompanied by dishes of vegetables, meat, fish or other items. This meal is in some ways a contrast to the cuisines of Northern Europe and of the US, where meat is often considered the main dish. However, with the Chinese, it’s a whole different story.

Rice is a critical part of the meal. However, in other parts of China, the dominant part of the meal may vary to include noodles, or steamed buns (known as ‘Mantou’). Despite the importance of rice in Chinese cuisine, in extremely formal occasions, no rice would be served, or it would only be provided when no other dish remained. Soup is usually served at the start of a meal.

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Qi Xi, the Night of the Sevens, is also called the Chinese Valentines Day or Magpie Day. This day falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month according to the Chinese calender. Young girls demonstrate their domestic arts, on this day, and make wishes for a good husband. However, behind this day, it holds a sad love story, of two lovers, only to be reunited once a year.

A young cowherd, named Niu Laang, happend to come across seven fairy sisters bathing in a lake. Urged on by his mischevious companion, the ox, he steals their clothes, and waits to see the result. The fairy sisters finished bathing, and elected their youngest sister, Zhinu, or weaver girl, to retrieve their clothing. She does exactly so, but in the event, Niu Laang saw her naked, and she agreed to his request for a marriage. However, Zhinu is the daughter of the Lady Queen Mother, and she was furious at the marrige of her daughter to a mere mortal. She forces Zhinu to return to heaven, never to set eyes on earth again. However, Niu Laang was steadfast, refusing to give up, since he had come to love the girl, and vice versa, and with the help of a magic ox, flies up to Zhinu’s side. But the Lady Queen Mother had many plans. Using a hairpin, she drew the Milky Way in the sky, separating the couple forever.

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Most of us are familiar with the two most popular mythical animals in Chinese culture, the Phoenix and the Dragon.

But do you know, there are many more than that? For starters, there’s the Jing Wei; the mythical bird that tried to fill up the ocean with twigs and pebbles, the Nine Headed bird; mainly used by the elders to scare children, Rui Shi; the celestial guard dog, Kui; a mythical one legged monster, Huli Jing; fox spirits, Nian; ( more info at: Chinese Lion Dance), and Xiezhi; a Unicorn beast.

Feng Huang- Phoenix

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History

The location of the complex was part of the imperial city during the Yuan dynasty. When the Ming Dynasty succeeded it, the first Hongwu Emperor ordered to raze the Mongol palaces 1369.
It’s construction started in 1406 and took 14 years and over 1 million skilled labourers and craftsmen. The principal axis of the new palace sits to the east of the Yuan Dynasty palace, a design intended to place the Yuan palace in the western or “kill” position in fengshui. From its completion to 1644, the Forbidden City served as the seat of the Ming Dynasty until a peasant revolt led by Li Zicheng invaded it. The following Qing Dynasty occupied the complex.

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